Taryn

Scheduling Coordinator and Office Administration

Building trust is key in Taryn’s job. She helps patients understand their care and to have confidence that they are receiving the best treatment possible. When asked why she thinks Desert Dental is unique Taryn says “We offer whole, comprehensive dental treatments. We are a patient-centered practice and we treat patients as though they are our own family members.” She was able to see this attitude in practice when a patient came to the office, terrified to even set foot inside. The patient is now confident and proactive with their dental health.

Taryn has been in dentistry since 2004 and has seen many changes; including full mouth reconstruction with dental implants. She appreciates innovations such as the all-on-four dentures that truly improve a patient’s quality of life.

A native of the Tri-Cities, Taryn is raising her family in the Kennewick area. When not at work or attending seminars or workshops she is probably enjoying sports. She is a hockey and football fan (Go Hawks!) and keeps herself active with running and biking.

Brandy

Accounts Manager

As our Accounts Manager, Brandy is responsible for helping patients understand their insurance benefits and the cost of their treatment plan. She works one on one with each person to budget their plan and to ensure they get the care they need to have good oral health.

Brandy began her work in the dental industry in 1999. When she joined Desert Dental she liked the personal feel of the office. She says “The team here treats each other like family, including the doctor, so we all work together well. We are always laughing and smiling. This is a very happy office.” And this extends to patients, as well. “I love when a patient completes their treatment plan and how happy they are with their smiles.”

Brandy has three children and a pug named Higgins. She coaches her sons’ soccer teams and cheers on their motocross races. She is also a big fan of her daughter, who plays volleyball, basketball and competes in barrel racing with her horse. When she has time Brandy focuses on her hobby; photography.

America

Registered Dental Hygienist

America joined Desert Dental because she heard good things about the practice from her colleagues and she liked Dr. Wieseler’s philosophy when treating patients’ oral health. She started her career in 2013, at a time when there is more collaboration between medical and dental professionals because of the focus on the systemic link between oral and overall health.

America enjoys the time she spends educating patients about oral health and the focus on preventing future problems. It is rewarding to see patients improve their oral health and at the same time improve their quality of life.

America grew up in Wenatchee. She and her husband have a son who is very involved in soccer and they are all big fans of the sport. When not at work or soccer games America enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking and family time.

Lisa

Registered Dental Hygienist

Lisa has been a dental hygienist since she earned her BS in Dental Hygiene from OSHU in 1993. She joined our office in 2014 after hearing great reviews from friends who had positive feedback about their care as patients. She also liked that Desert Dental treats the whole patient with treatment plans that outline all options for ideal oral health.

Lisa is inspired by the patients she cares for; and especially appreciates the opportunity to continue building friendships and professional relationships. Dental Hygienists are key to a patient’s care and Lisa works hard to get patients back on the road to good oral health. This includes patient education and community outreach to promote oral care. It also means keeping current with industry changes, such as implants as a more common restorative option and the use of lasers in periodontal therapy.

Lisa has four children she spends much of her time with. She also enjoys singing, crafting and sewing.

Melissa

Lead Assistant

Melissa believes that education is the best tool you can give someone and she works hard to be a source of information for patients. With the knowledge we give, patients are better equipped to make the best choices for their oral health. Melissa says, “Oral health is very important to me so it is great to come to work knowing we are helping others improve theirs.”

Melissa has worked in dentistry since 2011, joining our team in 2013. She likes the family environment of Desert Dental and the focus on whole mouth health. She also enjoys the practices focus on including the newest innovations in dentistry such as the all-on-four implant/dentures that give patients all the benefits of original, healthy teeth.

Helping others is the basis of Melissa’s work. She takes pride in her job and recalls a patient that came in for help because she was self-conscious about her teeth and smile. Our team was able to repair her teeth and give her the confidence to share her beautiful smile.

When she is not at work you may find Melissa outside – hiking, hunting or camping. She loves being in the mountains.

Ashley

Dental Assistant

Ashley is the kind of person who likes to help others. She served four years in the US Marine Corps before attending school to become a dental assistant. She joined our office in 2014 because she felt our office offered a place for her to grow and with a great team and work atmosphere. She also likes that we offer a conservative approach to dentistry and that patients are getting what they pay for.

Being a dental assistant allows Ashely to meet new people and to build lasting, trusting relationships with them. She cares about our patients and works hard to help them relax and overcome their fears of dental work. Ashley remembers one patient in particular who had had bad experiences with dentistry in her youth. “My patient was so scared to be at the appointment. She was crying during the x-ray process and was shaking she was so nervous.” Ashley took her time and not only got the patient through the appointment but helped her to commit to a plan that would help her through future visits.